Talk about pumpkin spice… the Racine County Fairgrounds gets crazy Saturday, October 20th & Sunday, October 21st with the Great Pumpkin Chuckin Fest! Don’t miss out on this smashing fun time. Returning this year is The Best of the Midwest BBQ Cook Off, where over 50 teams will compete for $7,000 in prize money and the title of “The Best of the Midwest”. There will be Costume contests for Kids and Adults. Prizes will be awarded! This 2-day event will feature Pumpkin Chuckin Competitions, where teams will catapult pumpkins as far as the eye can see! Raymond Middle School holds the record for the Junior Division with 229 ft., Waterford High School holds the record for the Intermediate Division with 317 ft., and Trinity Lutheran holds the record for the Advanced Division with 476 ft. Can you beat it? Give it a shot! Pumpkin chuckin’ is actually quite a rush.
Also look for multiple Stage Performances by the Racine Zoo, Food, Vendors, Seasonal Beers, Free Kids Games and Activities, Carnival and Hay Rides, Pumpkin Baking Contests, and so much more! Fun for all ages!
Admission is free for all. The Great Pumpkin Chuckin Fest runs 10am Saturday, October 20th through 5pm Sunday, October 21st. The Best of the Midwest BBQ Cook-Off kicks off Friday night and runs through Saturday – meaning not only is this a fun time, it’s a delicious time on the Racine County Fairgrounds!
Great Pumpkin Chuckin Fest & Best of the Midwest BBQ Cook-Off Address:
Racine County Fairgrounds
19805 Durand Avenue (Highway 11)
Union Grove, WI 53182
(262) 878-4606 Website
See the full schedule below!
The Racine County Fairgrounds is in Union Grove along Highway 11 by U.S. 45. Great Lakes Dragaway is close by, and of course the beauty of fall makes for a fantastic drive as you head to the Great Pumpkin Chuckin Fest and the Best of the Midwest BBQ Cook-Off! Other great places like the Bong Recreation Area, the Mars Cheese Castle, Appletrow Winery & Distillery, and more are all in close proximity.
Great Pumpkin Chuckin Fest & Best of the Midwest BBQ Schedule of Events:
Saturday October 20th 10 am – 8 pm
Best of the Midwest Cook-Off (10 – 5)
12 pm – BBQ Turn In & Judging Begins
5 pm – KCBS BEST OF THE MIDWEST Awards (Main Stage)
2 – 4 pm – People’s Choice Competition
You be the judge! Purchase a Peoples Choice Judges card for $10 and sample the Best BBQ in the Midwest! Cards and contest in Beer Garden.
Pumpkin Chuckin Field (10 – 6)
IT’S YOUR TURN! Launch your own pumpkin between competitions – $4 per launch.
10:30 am – 12:30 pm – Little Chuckers
12:30 pm – Little Chuckers Team Awards
2:00 pm – 4:30 pm – Soaring Squash
4:30 pm – Soaring Squash Team Awards
Kids Games & Activities (10-7)
Little Sprouts Kids Zone – Sponsored by North Shore Bank
Free Hayrides (10-5)
Garden Tractor Club Barrel Rides – $1
Free Kids Games – Kids Play Area
Pumpkin Sling Shots (3 for $1)
11 am – ALL DAY Carnival Rides
10 am – ALL DAY Broncos Youth Shooting Club Potato Gun Challenge (3 shots for $5 or 7 shots for $10)
12 – 4 pm – Treasure Hunt with Captain Jack and Friends
Special thanks to Maurice Farms for donating pumpkins used at the Fest!
Petting Zoo (10-6)
Join the Union Grove FFA and let your kids meet theirs! The Union Grove High School FFA will be hosting a farm animal petting zoo both days.
Little Sprouts Stage
Sponsored by Union Grove Piggly Wiggly
10 am – Pumpkin Yoga with Jessie Vyvyan from Chi Trees & Oil – FREE Family Friendly
11 am – Animals of the World – Racine Zoo
12 pm – Magic Rob
2 pm – Magic Rob
3 pm – Sword Play by Highwaymen Entertainment
3:30 pm – Pumpkin Seed Spitting Contest
4 pm – Creatures of the Night – Racine Zoo
Helicopter Rides (11 am)
Take a 5-6 minute ride around Union Grove at 120 mph! The cost of a ride is $40/seat and we can take three passengers per flight. There are no age restrictions. Children under age 2 may sit on parent’s lap (no charge for child) as long as everyone is within weight limits. Children, age 2 and older, must have their own seat and seatbelt. Helicopter rides are sponsored and hosted by Lakeshore Helicopter.
6 pm – 8 pm – Battle of the Bars featuring Dead Mann’s Saloon (Kansasville, WI), Hiawatha Bar & Grill (Sturtevant, WI), JB’s Pub (Union Grove, WI), and 1175 Sports Park & Eatery (Kansasville, WI)
Sunday, October 21 10 am – 5 pm
Pumpkin Chuckin Field (10 – 5)
IT’S YOUR TURN! Launch your own pumpkin between competitions – $4 per launch.
11 am – 2 pm – Advanced Chuckin Competition Begins
2:30 pm – Advanced Chuckin Awards
Kids Games & Activities (10-5)
Little Sprouts Kids Zone – Sponsored by North Shore Bank
Free Hayrides (10-5)
Garden Tractor Club Barrel Rides – $1
Free Kids Games – Kids Play Area
Pumpkin Sling Shots (3 for $1)
10 am – ALL DAY Carnival Rides
10 am – ALL DAY Broncos Youth Shooting Club -Potato Gun Challenge (3 shots for $5 or 7 shots for $10)
12 pm – Desperados & Deputies (presented by Highwaymen Entertainment)
Throughout the day watch out as bandits hijack our hayride!
Don’t worry Deputy Do-Good will be on guard to bring the
bandits to justice, but he may need your help!
Special thanks to Maurice Farms for donating pumpkins used at the Fest!
Petting Zoo (10-2)
Join the Union Grove FFA and let your kids meet theirs! The Union Grove High School FFA will be hosting a farm animal petting zoo both days.
Little Sprouts Stage
Sponsored by Union Grove Piggly Wiggly
11 am – Animals of the World – Racine Zoo
12 pm – Magic Rob
1:30 pm – Princess Story Time – Enchanted Parties & Events
2:30 pm – Creatures of the Night – Racine Zoo
3 pm – Magic Rob
4 pm – Princess Story Time with Enchanted Parties & Events
Helicopter Rides (12 pm)
Take a 5-6 minute ride around Union Grove at 120 mph! The cost of a ride is $40/seat and we can take three passengers per flight. There are no age restrictions. Children under age 2 may sit on parent’s lap (no charge for child) as long as everyone is within weight limits. Children, age 2 and older, must have their own seat and seatbelt. Helicopter rides are sponsored and hosted by Lakeshore Helicopter.
Great Pumpkin Bake-Off (10 – 1)
10 am – 12:45 pm- Entry Turn In at the Information Barn
1:00 pm Entry Judging & Awards (Main Stage)
Rib Cooking Demo (12 pm)
Join Moose’s BBQ at the Main Stage and learn the tricks behind the KCBS competition RIBS – including FREE samples!
Pie Eating Contest (2 pm)
Register at the information booth by 1:30 pm.
Start:
October 20, 2018 10:00 am
End:
October 21, 2018 5:00 pm
Venue:
Racine County Fairgrounds
Phone:
262-878-4606
Address:
19805 Durand Avenue, Union Grove, WI, 53182, United States
Talk about a live cultural experience! Fermentation Fest is a “Live Culture Convergence,” an annual celebration of live culture in all its forms from dance to yogurt and poetry to sauerkraut. Presented by the Reedsburg-based Wormfarm Institute, Fermentation Fest brings together farmers, chefs, artists, poets and performers in the beautiful working lands of Sauk County for tastings, demonstrations, cooking classes, art events, performances, food carts and more.
Classes, Tastings, and more…
From saurkraut to hot sauces, from chocolate to coffee, beer and wine, from yogurt to sourdough bread, over one-third of what we consume is fermented. Fermentation Fest features authors, chefs, bakers, scientists, chocolatiers, brew masters and cheese makers over two consecutive weekends, offering 40 classes and lectures that celebrate the abundance and transformation of fermentation. Learn skills you can use at home, enjoy samples, and experience hands-on ways to bring fermentation into your daily experience.
Farm/Art DTour
The biennial feature of Fermentation Fest, Farm/Art DTour is a 50+ mile drive through scenic working farmland of rural Sauk County where artists explore the timeless connection between land and people. For thousands of years, farmers in cultures around the world interwove dance, music, and art through rituals of planting and the harvest in celebration of the land and those who care for it. Through a contemporary approach and within this timeless context, they continue the tradition.
Check out two Food Chain stops #15 and #28 along the DTour – pick up a map at the Chamber of Commerce (240 Railroad Street, 608-524-2850).
Hit Highway 23 or 33 to find Reedsburg, cross the 90th Meridian, and enjoy Fermentation Fest!
Reedsburg Fermentation Fest Address:
28 E. Main Street (Highways 23/33)
Reedsburg, WI 53959
(608) 524-8672 Website
Start:
October 5, 2018
End:
October 14, 2018
Venue:
Wormfarm Institute
Phone:
608-524-8672
Address:
28 E. Main Street, Reedsburg, WI, 53959, United States
Formerly the Grill Games, Kenosha’s newly-christened “Bands, Brews, & BBQ on the Beach” is a free three-day weekend festival featuring outstanding live musical acts throughout the day and plenty of grills and BBQ. This year, it runs Friday, August 24th through Saturday, August 25th. The event gets a new name and a fresh shot of vision as the newly christened Bands, Brews & BBQs on the Kenosha Lakefront at Pennoyer & Kennedy Parks.
Like before when it was the Grill Games, check out the Wisconsin State Championship BBQ contest with teams from the Kansas City Barbeque Society! You can learn their secrets, taste and purchase BBQ, and vote for your favorite teams. There are also plenty of kids’ activities and a beer garden – because beer pairs exceptionally well with tasty BBQ. “Kenosha’s Best BBQ Contest” runs Friday the 24th from 5pm to 8pm and the “People’s Choice BBQ Competition” runs Saturday the 25th from 2pm to 4:30pm.
Admission is $5/day. Proceeds benefit the scholarship foundations of the Kenosha YMCA and the Kenosha Area Chamber of Commerce.
The Kenosha HarborPark area is between downtown and Lake Michigan, just east of Highway 32 between Highways 158 and 50. It’s a beautiful area, definitely check it out!
Kenosha Bands, Brews, & BBQ Address:
Celebration Place at HarborPark
56th Street & 1st Avenue
Kenosha, WI 53140
(262) 654-1234 Website Facebook page
Madison hosts the World Championship Cheese Contest again this year at the Monona Terrace and it will be a cheese lover’s paradise! Cheesemakers from all over the world descend on Wisconsin’s capital city for three days to judge over 3,000 cheeses, butters, and yogurts.
Preliminary judging rounds for the World Championship Cheese Contest are open to the public for FREE Tuesday, March 6 and Wednesday, March 7. Try some tasty samples as the judges do their thing and narrow it down to finalists and winners.
Then, Thursday night the 8th you can attend the Cheese Champion event. This ticketed event ($25, in advance) lets you sample more than 50 of the best cheese from around the world. International cheese experts will be on hand to show you the intracicies of of cheese evaluation, and of course you can pair cheeses with other foods and craft beers that will be available. The event climaxes with the crowning of the World Champion Cheesemaker!
Monona Terrace is a crown jewel of a conference center, with the original design going back to Frank Lloyd Wright. Perched overlooking Lake Monona on one side with a beautiful view of the Wisconsin State Capitol just a few blocks away, it’s a fantastic place for an event – especially one filled with specialty cheeses! Monona Terrace actually covers U.S. 151/John Nolen Drive for several blocks; it’s mere moments from the Beltline (U.S. 12/18), Park Avenue (U.S. 14/151), East Washington Avenue (U.S. 151), Highway 113, or Highway 30 from I-39/90/94.
World Championship Cheese Contest/Monona Terrace Address:
1 John Nolen Drive (U.S. 151)
Madison, WI 53703
(608) 286-1001 Website
The World Champion Cheesemaker Award was bestowed on a U.S. cheesemaker for the first time since 1988 during the awards in 2016, to Emmi Roth of Monroe, Wisconsin.
Start:
March 6, 2018 10:00 am
End:
March 8, 2018 9:00 pm
Venue:
Monona Terrace
Phone:
608-286-1001
Address:
1 John Nolen Drive, Madison, WI, 53703, United States
It’s a Fat Tuesday celebration at the Milwaukee Public Market! Loosen your belts and head over for the 2nd Annual Milwaukee Public Market Chili & Beer Tasting on Tuesday, February 13th.
Explore 8 different chili creations from 8 different public market vendors, and follow them up with 8 regional craft beers. Enjoy a wide range of chili creations that are sure to please everyone from meat-free fans to meat-PLEASE fans. From mild to wild, from fair to fire – the “heat meter” will be covered on both ends with each homemade chili recipe.
Wash down these chili samples with samplings from some of the area’s top breweries, from within Milwaukee and just beyond. Net proceeds from the event will benefit COA Youth & Family Centers. It’s a win-win-win!
Featuring Chili from:
The Soup & Stock Market
West Allis Cheese & Sausage
Margarita Paradise
On The Bus (vegan)
Thainamite
Foltz Family Market
The Spice House
St. Paul Fish Company
and featuring corn bread from C. Adams’ Bakery
With Beer from:
Sprecher
City Lights
Titletown Brewery
Lakefront Brewery
Good City Brewing
Raised Grain Brewing
Third Space Brewery, and
Company Brewing
The Milwaukee Public Market features a fantastic variety of food and beverage vendors, market items for recipes and take-home, wearables at Brew City Beer Gear, and during warmer weather an outdoor farmers market that stretches along Broadway and St. Paul. St. Paul Fish Company also offers a seasonal outdoor bar with a tiki-Florida feel in the summer and, conditions permitting, an ice bar in the winter. With the way the weather’s been looking, the ice bar will be open during the Milwaukee Public Market Chili & Beer Tasting, too!
You can get to the Milwaukee Public Market via Water Street or Broadway (Highway 32), two blocks south of U.S. 18 and about one mile north of Highway 59/National Avenue. Highways 38 and 145 bring you close, and I-794 literally hovers above it!
Milwaukee Public Market Chili & Beer Tasting Address:
400 N. Water Street
Milwaukee, WI 53202
(414) 336-1111 Website
Start:
February 13, 2018 6:00 pm
End:
February 13, 2018 9:00 pm
Venue:
Milwaukee Public Market
Phone:
414-336-1111
Address:
400 N. Water Street, Milwaukee, WI, 53202, United States
Chocolate: smooth, velvety, soft, dark, sensuous… kinda makes your heart go pitter-patter, doesn’t it? Well, there’s a treat for you at the 15th Annual, Death by Chocolate Valentine’s Day event in Appleton. It happens Saturday, Feb 10, 2018 from 1-4pm. Sample scrumptious chocolate desserts whipped up by some of the best chefs in the area!
Tickets are on sale now. Call 920-954-9112 or stop at the ADI office at 116 N. Appleton St. Mon-Fri 8:45am-3:30pm. You can also buy tickets online.
Enjoy the Love Is In The Air Celebration including a Community Wedding Vow Renewal in Houdini Plaza at noon, plus ice sculptures to view before & after your chocolate lovers paradise.
Choose from one of two “Death By Chocolate” routes each with 21 stops for just $20. (The 21 stops include 12 bars and restaurants and 8 retail stops who wanted to join in the fun on both routes. Plus one more bonus top that isn’t even on the tickets at Riverview Gardens Retail Store, 513 W. College Avenue where The Community Clothes Closet will be hosting a pop up Vintage clothing sale and giving away chocolate mini-cupcakes!)
See below for a list of the many participating locations.
Getting to Appleton is easy via I-41, U.S. 10, or Highways 47, 96, or 125 (of course, by the time you reach Highways 125, you’re pretty much IN Appleton already._)
Downtown Appleton Death By Chocolate Address:
10 W. College Avenue (Highway 125)
Appleton, WI 54911
(920) 954-9112 Website
Death By Chocolate Participating Locations:
EAST END
Wooden Nickel Sports Bar & Grill Chocolate Porter*
The Fire Spicy Hot Chocolate with Spray Whip
Beatnik Betty’s Resale Butik Chocolate Surprise
Antojitos Mexicanos Chocolate Tres Leche Cake
hey, daisy! Cookies & Dream Edible Ice Cream
The Vintage Garden Chocolate Salted Caramel Delight
Lillians of Appleton Chocolate Surprise
Brewed Awakenings Caramel Mocha Cake
Bagelicious Chocolate Surprise
Inspire Spa Hot Chocolate Bar
Olde Town Tavern Chocolate Martini*
Bazil’s Pub Chocolate Beer*
Tamara’s Cake Guru Chocolate Mini Cupcakes, Brownie Bites & Valentine Treats
Crazy Sweet Chocolate covered oreo truffles
Cleo’s Brown Beam Tavern Chopin Double Chocolate Liqueur*
Appleton Street Sports Bar & Grill Chocolate Cheesecake Bites
Rookie’s Bar & Grill Chocolate Beer*
Copper Rock Coffee Dark Chocolate Truffle Gelato with Winter Chocolate Drizzle
Spa BenMarNico Hot Chocolate
Float Light Assorted Chocolates
WEST END & RIVERFRONT
Wooden Nickel Sports Bar & Grill Chocolate Porter*
The Fire Spicy Hot Chocolate with Spray Whip
Beatnik Betty’s Resale Butik Chocolate Surprise
hey, daisy! Cookies & Dream Edible Ice Cream
The Vintage Garden Chocolate Salted Caramel Delight
Lillians of Appleton Chocolate Surprise
Inspire Spa Hot Chocolate Bar
Spa BenMarNico Hot Chocolate
Jo ala Mode inside the Radisson Chocolate Fantasy Cake
CU Saloon Hasta LaBasta (Chocolate, Honey & Molasses Stout)*
McGuinness Irish Pub Nutty Irishman*
ACOCA Coffee Bourbon Pecan Truffles
Muncheez Pizzeria Cinni-Muncheez with Chocolate Fudge dipping sauce
Appleton Beer Factory Chocolate Beer*
Float Light Assorted Chocolates
Sangria’s Mexican Grill Chicken Chile Relleno with White Chocolate Godiva Ganache
Spats Food & Spirits Chocolate POTS DE CREME
Stone Arch BrewPub Bacon Brewer Bars (paired with an Imperial Chocolate Stout*)
Fratello’s Waterfront Restaurant mini chocolate cupcakes filled with milk chocolate ganache
Atlas Waterfront Café & Gathering Room Atlas Expresso Fudge & Other Delights
*indicates you must be 21 or older
The Downtown Trolley will be running a continuous loop every 20 minutes to help you get to all the venues thanks to the generosity of sponsors Tundraland and Warning Lites.
Start:
February 10, 2018 1:00 pm
End:
February 10, 2018 4:00 pm
Venue:
Downtown Appleton
Phone:
920-954-9112
Address:
10 W. College Avenue, Appleton, WI, 54911, United States
Oconomowoc warms up the chilly January weather with its 9th annual Chili Fest on Saturday, January 27th! Ice sculptures and carvings along the downtown streets, ice and pond hockey on Fowler Lake, open family skating, a beer tent, and of course plenty of chili tastings.
Chili tastings are hosted by downtown businesses and local fundraising organizations with proceeds going to local charity. As you stroll downtown and stop in shops you can check out professional ice carvers who dot the downtown streets chiseling frozen blocks into works of art. A DJ and beer tent – which will also offer burgers and hot cocoa – are set up on the lake near the hockey tournament. A family skating rink is groomed nearby and an ice fishing clinic is also planned for the young anglers. It should be a fairly mild Saturday, so note ice conditions if you plan on skating.
While you stroll Wisconsin Avenue, check out a great burger at Crafty Cow, browse boutique shops, have a beer at Lakerz Sports Bar & Grill, and get a gander at the marker by City Hall commemorating the former location of the Strand Theatre, notable for being the place where the classic film The Wizard of Oz first premiered to audiences. Plenty of fun, food, skating, history, and more in this incredibly charming town at the western end of Waukesha County’s Lake Country.
Oconomowoc is where Highways 16 and 67 meet, just north of I-94’s Exit 282. The downtown is wedged between Lac La Belle and Fowler Lake and stroll along Wisconsin Avenue and Main Street reveals plenty of great shops, beautiful architecture, restaurants, historic markers, a dam, and much more. And of course on Saturday the 27th during Chili Fest, plenty of skating and chili!
Chili Fest Address:
Downtown Oconomowoc
133 E. Wisconsin Avenue (Highways 16 & 67, skipping the bypass)
Oconomowoc, WI 53066
(262) 567-5755 Website
Start:
January 27, 2018 9:00 am
End:
January 27, 2018 5:00 pm
Venue:
Downtown Oconomowoc
Phone:
262-567-5755
Address:
133 E. Wisconsin Avenue, Oconomowoc, WI, 53066, United States
The 8th annual Taste of Lake Geneva features the best fare in and around Lake Geneva, from deep fried cheese curds to barbecued ribs, and from homemade soups to tantalizing desserts. Along with great food, local artists will entertain with their tunes as you enjoy the view of Geneva Lake from Flat Iron Park.
Participating Restaurants at Taste of Lake Geneva include Avant, Constant Cravings, Franks, Simple Bakery, Sprecher, Lake Geneva Country Meats, The Geneva Inn, Crafted, Heart & Soul, Mama Ciminos, Tuscan and Geneva Java.
It runs from 11am – 6pm on Saturday, September 9, 2017. Admission is $2, food samples range from $3 to $9.
Taste of Lake Geneva Address:
Flat Iron Park
201 Wrigley Drive
Lake Geneva, WI 53147
(262) 248-4416 Website
Start:
September 9, 2017 11:00 am
End:
September 9, 2017 6:00 pm
Venue:
Flat Iron Park
Phone:
262-248-4416
Address:
201 Wrigley Drive, Lake Geneva, WI, 53147, United States
Wisconsin Dells is one of the ultimate summer destinations – not just in Wisconsin, but nationwide! Come and celebrate the start of summer with Taste of the Dells, where you can enjoy tasty samples from many Dells area restaurants.
Ribs. I had ribs for lunch. That’s why I’m doing this.
There is also live entertainment, a fish boil, family entertainment, arts and crafts show, antique tractor show and a library book sale. Taste of the Dells and all the activities happen throughout the downtown area (right along Highways 13, 16, and 23) pretty much all day on Friday, June 9th and Saturday, June 10th. Admission is free!
Participating restaurants include:
Boomtown Saloon
Carvelli’s Pizza & Pasta House
Chalet Lanes & Lounge
Dells Distillery
Famous Dave’s BBQ
The Frozen Bear
High Rock Cafe
Kalahari Resorts & Conventions Dining
Mac’s Macaroni & Cheese Shop
Monk’s Bar & Grill
Oodlesmack Popcorn
Pizza Pub
San Antonio Mexican Restaurant
Spring Brook Sports Bar & Grill
Stuff’s Restaurant & Catering
The Keg Bar & Grill/The Patio
Schedule of Events:
Friday, June 9th
Fish Boil, 4:30 pm – 7:30 pm (requires tickets)
Beer Tent Open, 4:30 pm – 10:30 pm
Live Entertainment, 7:30 pm – 10:30 pm
Saturday, June 10th
Arts and Crafts Show, 9 am – 4 pm
Antique Tractor Show, 9 am – 4 pm
Library Book Sale, 9 am – 4 pm
Bowman House Open, 10 am – 2 pm
Corvettes Parade, 11 am – 1:30 pm
Restaurant Tent Open, 11 am – 10 pm
Beer Tent Open, 11 am – 10 pm
Family Entertainment, 11 am – 7 pm
Live Entertainment, 7:30 pm – 10:30 pm
I-90/94, U.S. 12, and Highways 13, 16, and 23 all bring you to the Dells!
Start:
June 9, 2017 4:30 pm
End:
June 10, 2017 10:30 pm
Venue:
Downtown Wisconsin Dells
Phone:
608-254-2992
Address:
Broadway, Wisconsin Dells, WI, 53965, United States
Head to Racine, the “Kringle Capital of the World,” and join the famous O&H Bakery for their first ever Racine Fall Festival of Flavors! Located outside their 5910 Washington Avenue store location – right along Highway 20 – they are celebrating the bounty that fall brings to our state. This event – a sweet one for sure – will take place Saturday, October 15, 2016 from 10am-2pm.
Activities include:
* Giveaways and treats from the Wisconsin Cranberry Growers Association
* Great food like caramel apples, seasonal sandwiches, cupcakes, hand-pies, hot drinks and more. Kringles, too.
* Cookie decorating for a $1 – each child will get 1 cookie and their own little container of icing (two colors) and sprinkles!
* Every child will get one free pumpkin cookie & a fun activity sheet to color with crayons
* A Guess Game Contest with a chance to win. Guess the right number of an item and the winner receives a bakery gift basket and the chance to win Kringle of the Month for 6 months!
* Ohlaf (their mascot) will be available for pictures and interaction with the kids
O&H has six locations total, including one inside the Highway 20 Petro Travel Plaza along I-41/94. The Racine Fall Festival of Flavors takes place at the Racine-West location, about five miles further east along Highway 20, near the junction with Highway 31.
Normal store hours are 5:30am-6:00pm Monday through Friday, 5:30am-5:00pm on Saturday, and 7:00am-2:00pm on Sunday. Along with kringle, this Viking heritage-inspired store also features fair trade coffee, other fresh bakery items, and made-to-order sandwiches. But you’ll definitely want to celebrate Racine’s Danish heritage with kringle at Racine Fall Festival of Flavors – it’s one of the best!
Address:
O&H Bakery
5910 Washington Avenue (Highway 20)
Racine, WI 53406
(262) 504-7000 Website
Start:
October 15, 2016 10:00 am
End:
October 15, 2016 2:00 pm
Venue:
O&H Danish Bakery
Phone:
262-504-7000
Address:
5910 Washington Avenue, Racine, WI, 53406, United States
Beer has a long, illustrious history as the centerpiece of many parties and events, especially here in Milwaukee. With this in mind, the Milwaukee Public Museum on Wells Street in downtown Milwaukee will open its doors after hours and add another chapter to that story. The Milwaukee Public Museum’s 18th Annual Food & Froth Fest will be held on Saturday, Feb. 20, 2016 from 7 – 10 p.m.
Food & Froth will feature over 200 different beers from more than 70 breweries, including Midwest treasures such as Summit Brewing Co., which is making its Food & Froth debut, and international favorites like Germany’s Krombacher Brauerei. Nibble on tasty bites from Screamin’ Sicilian frozen pizza, sampling a fully loaded pizza perfect for pairing with beer, as well as many other treats from local restaurants and caterers. Additionally there will be live music on all three exhibit floors, including a performance by The Whiskey Belles.
Food & Froth tickets are $75 for members and $125 for VIP tickets. VIP tickets include 5:30 p.m. entrance into the special VIP room filled with exclusive craft beers, a smorgasbord of unlimited savories and sweets, and 6:00 p.m. early entry into the event.
Tickets are available by calling (414) 278-2728 or (888) 700-9069 during museum hours. Admission fee covers all food, beer and live entertainment. You must be at least 21 years of age to attend, and a valid identification and ticket are required for entrance into the event.
The Milwaukee Public Museum is right along U.S. 18 (Wells Street) in downtown Milwaukee, within blocks of I-43, I-94, the south end of Highway 145, and also close to Highway 32 (Broadway/Milwaukee Street), Highway 38 (5th/6th Street south of downtown), Highway 59 (National Avenue), and I-794.
Start:
February 20, 2016 7:00 pm
End:
February 20, 2016 10:00 pm
Venue:
Milwaukee Public Museum
Phone:
414-278-2728
Address:
800 W. Wells Street, Milwaukee, WI, 53233, United States
No, not the Apple computers. We’re talking one of our favorite foods and fruits! Galesville’s Apple Affair is a major event in Trempealeau County. It all started in 1983 as part of Wisconsin’s effort to promote the state’s apple orchards; today, Apple Affair draws people from throughout the state and nearby Minnesota.
This family event is held on the Square in downtown Galesville Saturday, October 3rd. Kicking off the annual event is breakfast which is served in the Big Tent on the Square. The scrambled egg omelet is cooked in one of the biggest skillets you will ever see! It took 1,250 eggs, 30 pounds of ham, 10 cups of onions, 9 pounds of butter, 630 squares of coffee cake, 22 gallons of apple juice, 21 loaves of bread and 1,200 cups of coffee to feed the 630 people who attended the first event. Since then, attendance numbers in the thousands.
As the day continues, the aroma wafting through the Square changes to the smell of bratwurst and hot dogs cooking on the outdoor grills.
In another tent, Galesville’s famous 10-foot apple pie tempts the taste buds as it bakes.
Orchards from the area set up stands where visitors can purchase apples and apple treats served by local growers. Apple pie, apple slices, caramel apples, Queen’s Apple, apple cider, apple juice — if it’s apple, you will find it here.
In the parking lot across from the Square, artisans and crafters attract shoppers with everything from dollhouse miniatures to crocheted doilies to braided rugs to woodworking crafts and so much more.
Throughout the day, music from the big tent permeates the air. Provided by area performers, the music is enjoyed by young and old alike.
The Apple Affair Bike Tour is a popular activity for the day. Hundreds of bicyclists spend most of the day touring the Galesville apple orchards and surrounding area. The scenery of this “Garden of Eden” is spectacular and the event is a perfect family affair. The first Apple Affair attracted 42 bicyclists who rode the 28.7 mile loop from downtown Galesville through the orchards. The bike tour has grown in popularity and some years, depending on the weather, more than 200 bicyclists have participated. To find out more about this year’s ride go to www.appleaffairbiketour.com.
Other activities that day include the Trempealeau County Color Cruise and Open Houses at A.A.Arnold House (aka Eastside Farmstead) and at Old Main.
Free shuttle buses leave the downtown area regularly to take tour groups to the A.A.Arnold House and Old Main.
Galesville is just north of La Crosse in Trempealeau County, at the junction of Highways 35, 54, and 93.
Start:
October 3, 2015 7:00 am
End:
October 3, 2015 5:00 pm
Venue:
Downtown Galesville
Phone:
608-582-2868
Address:
Jct Highways 35 & 93, Galesville, WI, 54630, United States
Beaver Dam has a lot of events tailored to specific foods. They have a cream cheese festival in March; in September, things get spicier!
The Beaver Dam Pepper Festival celebrates the Hungarian immigrants who brought peppers to the area in 1912 – we’re guessing foods were a little blander prior to that – and offers music, fun, and spicy dishes. Get all the details on their website!
Beaver Dam is in the heart of Dodge County along U.S. 151 and Highway 33.
Start:
September 12, 2015 10:00 am
End:
September 12, 2015 6:00 pm
Venue:
Park Village
Phone:
920-382-6453
Address:
810 Park Avenue, Beaver Dam, WI, 53916, United States
How fitting is it that Fond du Lac has Fondue Fest?? With an annual attendance of more than 20,000 people, Fondue Fest comes in as the largest event in downtown FDL. Three stages feature a variety of music genres, there’s a huge Kids Zone, art and craft vendors, farmer’s market vendors, and of course, plenty of cheese and chocolate fondue. Dip, twirl, and eat!
Fondue Fest takes place Saturday September 12th along Main Street in Fond du Lac. It’s just off I-41 & U.S. 151 (which bypass the city), with Highway 23 and U.S. 45 providing direct access. Highway 175 comes in from the south as Main Street, although it technically ends before you reach downtown. Keep going north and you’ll reach it!
Check their website for full schedules and details.
Start:
September 12, 2015 9:00 am
End:
September 12, 2015 5:00 pm
Venue:
Downtown Fond du Lac
Phone:
920-322-2006
Address:
Main Street, Fond du Lac, WI, 54935, United States
Calendar of Events
Calendar of Events › Food
October 20, 2018 – October 21, 2018
Great Pumpkin Chuckin Fest & Best of the Midwest BBQ Cook-Off
Talk about pumpkin spice… the Racine County Fairgrounds gets crazy Saturday, October 20th & Sunday, October 21st with the Great Pumpkin Chuckin Fest! Don’t miss out on this smashing fun time. Returning this year is The Best of the Midwest BBQ Cook Off, where over 50 teams will compete for $7,000 in prize money and the title of “The Best of the Midwest”. There will be Costume contests for Kids and Adults. Prizes will be awarded! This 2-day event will feature Pumpkin Chuckin Competitions, where teams will catapult pumpkins as far as the eye can see! Raymond Middle School holds the record for the Junior Division with 229 ft., Waterford High School holds the record for the Intermediate Division with 317 ft., and Trinity Lutheran holds the record for the Advanced Division with 476 ft. Can you beat it? Give it a shot! Pumpkin chuckin’ is actually quite a rush.
Also look for multiple Stage Performances by the Racine Zoo, Food, Vendors, Seasonal Beers, Free Kids Games and Activities, Carnival and Hay Rides, Pumpkin Baking Contests, and so much more! Fun for all ages!
Admission is free for all. The Great Pumpkin Chuckin Fest runs 10am Saturday, October 20th through 5pm Sunday, October 21st. The Best of the Midwest BBQ Cook-Off kicks off Friday night and runs through Saturday – meaning not only is this a fun time, it’s a delicious time on the Racine County Fairgrounds!
Great Pumpkin Chuckin Fest & Best of the Midwest BBQ Cook-Off Address:
Racine County Fairgrounds
19805 Durand Avenue (Highway 11)
Union Grove, WI 53182
(262) 878-4606
Website
See the full schedule below!
The Racine County Fairgrounds is in Union Grove along Highway 11 by U.S. 45. Great Lakes Dragaway is close by, and of course the beauty of fall makes for a fantastic drive as you head to the Great Pumpkin Chuckin Fest and the Best of the Midwest BBQ Cook-Off! Other great places like the Bong Recreation Area, the Mars Cheese Castle, Appletrow Winery & Distillery, and more are all in close proximity.
Great Pumpkin Chuckin Fest & Best of the Midwest BBQ Schedule of Events:
Saturday October 20th
10 am – 8 pm
Best of the Midwest Cook-Off (10 – 5)
12 pm – BBQ Turn In & Judging Begins
5 pm – KCBS BEST OF THE MIDWEST Awards (Main Stage)
2 – 4 pm – People’s Choice Competition
You be the judge! Purchase a Peoples Choice Judges card for $10 and sample the Best BBQ in the Midwest! Cards and contest in Beer Garden.
Pumpkin Chuckin Field (10 – 6)
IT’S YOUR TURN! Launch your own pumpkin between competitions – $4 per launch.
10:30 am – 12:30 pm – Little Chuckers
12:30 pm – Little Chuckers Team Awards
2:00 pm – 4:30 pm – Soaring Squash
4:30 pm – Soaring Squash Team Awards
Kids Games & Activities (10-7)
Little Sprouts Kids Zone – Sponsored by North Shore Bank
Free Hayrides (10-5)
Garden Tractor Club Barrel Rides – $1
Free Kids Games – Kids Play Area
Pumpkin Sling Shots (3 for $1)
11 am – ALL DAY Carnival Rides
10 am – ALL DAY Broncos Youth Shooting Club Potato Gun Challenge (3 shots for $5 or 7 shots for $10)
12 – 4 pm – Treasure Hunt with Captain Jack and Friends
Special thanks to Maurice Farms for donating pumpkins used at the Fest!
Petting Zoo (10-6)
Join the Union Grove FFA and let your kids meet theirs! The Union Grove High School FFA will be hosting a farm animal petting zoo both days.
Little Sprouts Stage
Sponsored by Union Grove Piggly Wiggly
10 am – Pumpkin Yoga with Jessie Vyvyan from Chi Trees & Oil – FREE Family Friendly
11 am – Animals of the World – Racine Zoo
12 pm – Magic Rob
2 pm – Magic Rob
3 pm – Sword Play by Highwaymen Entertainment
3:30 pm – Pumpkin Seed Spitting Contest
4 pm – Creatures of the Night – Racine Zoo
Helicopter Rides (11 am)
Take a 5-6 minute ride around Union Grove at 120 mph! The cost of a ride is $40/seat and we can take three passengers per flight. There are no age restrictions. Children under age 2 may sit on parent’s lap (no charge for child) as long as everyone is within weight limits. Children, age 2 and older, must have their own seat and seatbelt. Helicopter rides are sponsored and hosted by Lakeshore Helicopter.
Beer Tent Main Stage
1 pm – Kids Costume Contest & Parade
2 pm – 4 pm – People’s Choice BBQ Tasting
5 pm – Best of the Midwest BBQ Awards
4 pm – 8 pm – Blues Rock Band
6 pm – 8 pm – Battle of the Bars featuring Dead Mann’s Saloon (Kansasville, WI), Hiawatha Bar & Grill (Sturtevant, WI), JB’s Pub (Union Grove, WI), and 1175 Sports Park & Eatery (Kansasville, WI)
Sunday, October 21
10 am – 5 pm
Pumpkin Chuckin Field (10 – 5)
IT’S YOUR TURN! Launch your own pumpkin between competitions – $4 per launch.
11 am – 2 pm – Advanced Chuckin Competition Begins
2:30 pm – Advanced Chuckin Awards
Kids Games & Activities (10-5)
Little Sprouts Kids Zone – Sponsored by North Shore Bank
Free Hayrides (10-5)
Garden Tractor Club Barrel Rides – $1
Free Kids Games – Kids Play Area
Pumpkin Sling Shots (3 for $1)
10 am – ALL DAY Carnival Rides
10 am – ALL DAY Broncos Youth Shooting Club -Potato Gun Challenge (3 shots for $5 or 7 shots for $10)
12 pm – Desperados & Deputies (presented by Highwaymen Entertainment)
Throughout the day watch out as bandits hijack our hayride!
Don’t worry Deputy Do-Good will be on guard to bring the
bandits to justice, but he may need your help!
Special thanks to Maurice Farms for donating pumpkins used at the Fest!
Petting Zoo (10-2)
Join the Union Grove FFA and let your kids meet theirs! The Union Grove High School FFA will be hosting a farm animal petting zoo both days.
Little Sprouts Stage
Sponsored by Union Grove Piggly Wiggly
11 am – Animals of the World – Racine Zoo
12 pm – Magic Rob
1:30 pm – Princess Story Time – Enchanted Parties & Events
2:30 pm – Creatures of the Night – Racine Zoo
3 pm – Magic Rob
4 pm – Princess Story Time with Enchanted Parties & Events
Helicopter Rides (12 pm)
Take a 5-6 minute ride around Union Grove at 120 mph! The cost of a ride is $40/seat and we can take three passengers per flight. There are no age restrictions. Children under age 2 may sit on parent’s lap (no charge for child) as long as everyone is within weight limits. Children, age 2 and older, must have their own seat and seatbelt. Helicopter rides are sponsored and hosted by Lakeshore Helicopter.
Great Pumpkin Bake-Off (10 – 1)
10 am – 12:45 pm- Entry Turn In at the Information Barn
1:00 pm Entry Judging & Awards (Main Stage)
Rib Cooking Demo (12 pm)
Join Moose’s BBQ at the Main Stage and learn the tricks behind the KCBS competition RIBS – including FREE samples!
Pie Eating Contest (2 pm)
Register at the information booth by 1:30 pm.
October 5, 2018 – October 14, 2018
Reedsburg Fermentation Fest
Talk about a live cultural experience! Fermentation Fest is a “Live Culture Convergence,” an annual celebration of live culture in all its forms from dance to yogurt and poetry to sauerkraut. Presented by the Reedsburg-based Wormfarm Institute, Fermentation Fest brings together farmers, chefs, artists, poets and performers in the beautiful working lands of Sauk County for tastings, demonstrations, cooking classes, art events, performances, food carts and more.
From saurkraut to hot sauces, from chocolate to coffee, beer and wine, from yogurt to sourdough bread, over one-third of what we consume is fermented. Fermentation Fest features authors, chefs, bakers, scientists, chocolatiers, brew masters and cheese makers over two consecutive weekends, offering 40 classes and lectures that celebrate the abundance and transformation of fermentation. Learn skills you can use at home, enjoy samples, and experience hands-on ways to bring fermentation into your daily experience.
The biennial feature of Fermentation Fest, Farm/Art DTour is a 50+ mile drive through scenic working farmland of rural Sauk County where artists explore the timeless connection between land and people. For thousands of years, farmers in cultures around the world interwove dance, music, and art through rituals of planting and the harvest in celebration of the land and those who care for it. Through a contemporary approach and within this timeless context, they continue the tradition.
Hit Highway 23 or 33 to find Reedsburg, cross the 90th Meridian, and enjoy Fermentation Fest!
Reedsburg Fermentation Fest Address:
28 E. Main Street (Highways 23/33)
Reedsburg, WI 53959
(608) 524-8672
Website
August 24, 2018 – August 25, 2018
Bands, Brews & BBQ in Kenosha
Like before when it was the Grill Games, check out the Wisconsin State Championship BBQ contest with teams from the Kansas City Barbeque Society! You can learn their secrets, taste and purchase BBQ, and vote for your favorite teams. There are also plenty of kids’ activities and a beer garden – because beer pairs exceptionally well with tasty BBQ. “Kenosha’s Best BBQ Contest” runs Friday the 24th from 5pm to 8pm and the “People’s Choice BBQ Competition” runs Saturday the 25th from 2pm to 4:30pm.
Admission is $5/day. Proceeds benefit the scholarship foundations of the Kenosha YMCA and the Kenosha Area Chamber of Commerce.
The Kenosha HarborPark area is between downtown and Lake Michigan, just east of Highway 32 between Highways 158 and 50. It’s a beautiful area, definitely check it out!
Kenosha Bands, Brews, & BBQ Address:
Celebration Place at HarborPark
56th Street & 1st Avenue
Kenosha, WI 53140
(262) 654-1234
Website
Facebook page
March 6, 2018 – March 8, 2018
World Championship Cheese Contest
Preliminary judging rounds for the World Championship Cheese Contest are open to the public for FREE Tuesday, March 6 and Wednesday, March 7. Try some tasty samples as the judges do their thing and narrow it down to finalists and winners.
Then, Thursday night the 8th you can attend the Cheese Champion event. This ticketed event ($25, in advance) lets you sample more than 50 of the best cheese from around the world. International cheese experts will be on hand to show you the intracicies of of cheese evaluation, and of course you can pair cheeses with other foods and craft beers that will be available. The event climaxes with the crowning of the World Champion Cheesemaker!
World Championship Cheese Contest/Monona Terrace Address:
1 John Nolen Drive (U.S. 151)
Madison, WI 53703
(608) 286-1001
Website
February 13, 2018
Milwaukee Public Market Chili & Beer Tasting
It’s a Fat Tuesday celebration at the Milwaukee Public Market! Loosen your belts and head over for the 2nd Annual Milwaukee Public Market Chili & Beer Tasting on Tuesday, February 13th.
Explore 8 different chili creations from 8 different public market vendors, and follow them up with 8 regional craft beers. Enjoy a wide range of chili creations that are sure to please everyone from meat-free fans to meat-PLEASE fans. From mild to wild, from fair to fire – the “heat meter” will be covered on both ends with each homemade chili recipe.
Wash down these chili samples with samplings from some of the area’s top breweries, from within Milwaukee and just beyond. Net proceeds from the event will benefit COA Youth & Family Centers. It’s a win-win-win!
Featuring Chili from:
With Beer from:
The Milwaukee Public Market features a fantastic variety of food and beverage vendors, market items for recipes and take-home, wearables at Brew City Beer Gear, and during warmer weather an outdoor farmers market that stretches along Broadway and St. Paul. St. Paul Fish Company also offers a seasonal outdoor bar with a tiki-Florida feel in the summer and, conditions permitting, an ice bar in the winter. With the way the weather’s been looking, the ice bar will be open during the Milwaukee Public Market Chili & Beer Tasting, too!
You can get to the Milwaukee Public Market via Water Street or Broadway (Highway 32), two blocks south of U.S. 18 and about one mile north of Highway 59/National Avenue. Highways 38 and 145 bring you close, and I-794 literally hovers above it!
Milwaukee Public Market Chili & Beer Tasting Address:
400 N. Water Street
Milwaukee, WI 53202
(414) 336-1111
Website
February 10, 2018
Downtown Appleton Death By Chocolate
Chocolate: smooth, velvety, soft, dark, sensuous… kinda makes your heart go pitter-patter, doesn’t it? Well, there’s a treat for you at the 15th Annual, Death by Chocolate Valentine’s Day event in Appleton. It happens Saturday, Feb 10, 2018 from 1-4pm. Sample scrumptious chocolate desserts whipped up by some of the best chefs in the area!
Tickets are on sale now. Call 920-954-9112 or stop at the ADI office at 116 N. Appleton St. Mon-Fri 8:45am-3:30pm. You can also buy tickets online.
Enjoy the Love Is In The Air Celebration including a Community Wedding Vow Renewal in Houdini Plaza at noon, plus ice sculptures to view before & after your chocolate lovers paradise.
Choose from one of two “Death By Chocolate” routes each with 21 stops for just $20. (The 21 stops include 12 bars and restaurants and 8 retail stops who wanted to join in the fun on both routes. Plus one more bonus top that isn’t even on the tickets at Riverview Gardens Retail Store, 513 W. College Avenue where The Community Clothes Closet will be hosting a pop up Vintage clothing sale and giving away chocolate mini-cupcakes!)
See below for a list of the many participating locations.
Getting to Appleton is easy via I-41, U.S. 10, or Highways 47, 96, or 125 (of course, by the time you reach Highways 125, you’re pretty much IN Appleton already._)
Downtown Appleton Death By Chocolate Address:
10 W. College Avenue (Highway 125)
Appleton, WI 54911
(920) 954-9112
Website
Death By Chocolate Participating Locations:
EAST END
Wooden Nickel Sports Bar & Grill Chocolate Porter*
The Fire Spicy Hot Chocolate with Spray Whip
Beatnik Betty’s Resale Butik Chocolate Surprise
Antojitos Mexicanos Chocolate Tres Leche Cake
hey, daisy! Cookies & Dream Edible Ice Cream
The Vintage Garden Chocolate Salted Caramel Delight
Lillians of Appleton Chocolate Surprise
Brewed Awakenings Caramel Mocha Cake
Bagelicious Chocolate Surprise
Inspire Spa Hot Chocolate Bar
Olde Town Tavern Chocolate Martini*
Bazil’s Pub Chocolate Beer*
Tamara’s Cake Guru Chocolate Mini Cupcakes, Brownie Bites & Valentine Treats
Crazy Sweet Chocolate covered oreo truffles
Cleo’s Brown Beam Tavern Chopin Double Chocolate Liqueur*
Appleton Street Sports Bar & Grill Chocolate Cheesecake Bites
Rookie’s Bar & Grill Chocolate Beer*
Copper Rock Coffee Dark Chocolate Truffle Gelato with Winter Chocolate Drizzle
Spa BenMarNico Hot Chocolate
Float Light Assorted Chocolates
WEST END & RIVERFRONT
Wooden Nickel Sports Bar & Grill Chocolate Porter*
The Fire Spicy Hot Chocolate with Spray Whip
Beatnik Betty’s Resale Butik Chocolate Surprise
hey, daisy! Cookies & Dream Edible Ice Cream
The Vintage Garden Chocolate Salted Caramel Delight
Lillians of Appleton Chocolate Surprise
Inspire Spa Hot Chocolate Bar
Spa BenMarNico Hot Chocolate
Jo ala Mode inside the Radisson Chocolate Fantasy Cake
CU Saloon Hasta LaBasta (Chocolate, Honey & Molasses Stout)*
McGuinness Irish Pub Nutty Irishman*
ACOCA Coffee Bourbon Pecan Truffles
Muncheez Pizzeria Cinni-Muncheez with Chocolate Fudge dipping sauce
Appleton Beer Factory Chocolate Beer*
Float Light Assorted Chocolates
Sangria’s Mexican Grill Chicken Chile Relleno with White Chocolate Godiva Ganache
Spats Food & Spirits Chocolate POTS DE CREME
Stone Arch BrewPub Bacon Brewer Bars (paired with an Imperial Chocolate Stout*)
Fratello’s Waterfront Restaurant mini chocolate cupcakes filled with milk chocolate ganache
Atlas Waterfront Café & Gathering Room Atlas Expresso Fudge & Other Delights
*indicates you must be 21 or older
The Downtown Trolley will be running a continuous loop every 20 minutes to help you get to all the venues thanks to the generosity of sponsors Tundraland and Warning Lites.
January 27, 2018
Chili Fest
Oconomowoc warms up the chilly January weather with its 9th annual Chili Fest on Saturday, January 27th! Ice sculptures and carvings along the downtown streets, ice and pond hockey on Fowler Lake, open family skating, a beer tent, and of course plenty of chili tastings.
Chili tastings are hosted by downtown businesses and local fundraising organizations with proceeds going to local charity. As you stroll downtown and stop in shops you can check out professional ice carvers who dot the downtown streets chiseling frozen blocks into works of art. A DJ and beer tent – which will also offer burgers and hot cocoa – are set up on the lake near the hockey tournament. A family skating rink is groomed nearby and an ice fishing clinic is also planned for the young anglers. It should be a fairly mild Saturday, so note ice conditions if you plan on skating.
While you stroll Wisconsin Avenue, check out a great burger at Crafty Cow, browse boutique shops, have a beer at Lakerz Sports Bar & Grill, and get a gander at the marker by City Hall commemorating the former location of the Strand Theatre, notable for being the place where the classic film The Wizard of Oz first premiered to audiences. Plenty of fun, food, skating, history, and more in this incredibly charming town at the western end of Waukesha County’s Lake Country.
Oconomowoc is where Highways 16 and 67 meet, just north of I-94’s Exit 282. The downtown is wedged between Lac La Belle and Fowler Lake and stroll along Wisconsin Avenue and Main Street reveals plenty of great shops, beautiful architecture, restaurants, historic markers, a dam, and much more. And of course on Saturday the 27th during Chili Fest, plenty of skating and chili!
Chili Fest Address:
Downtown Oconomowoc
133 E. Wisconsin Avenue (Highways 16 & 67, skipping the bypass)
Oconomowoc, WI 53066
(262) 567-5755
Website
September 9, 2017
Taste of Lake Geneva
The 8th annual Taste of Lake Geneva features the best fare in and around Lake Geneva, from deep fried cheese curds to barbecued ribs, and from homemade soups to tantalizing desserts. Along with great food, local artists will entertain with their tunes as you enjoy the view of Geneva Lake from Flat Iron Park.
Participating Restaurants at Taste of Lake Geneva include Avant, Constant Cravings, Franks, Simple Bakery, Sprecher, Lake Geneva Country Meats, The Geneva Inn, Crafted, Heart & Soul, Mama Ciminos, Tuscan and Geneva Java.
It runs from 11am – 6pm on Saturday, September 9, 2017. Admission is $2, food samples range from $3 to $9.
Taste of Lake Geneva Address:
Flat Iron Park
201 Wrigley Drive
Lake Geneva, WI 53147
(262) 248-4416
Website
June 9, 2017 – June 10, 2017
Taste of the Dells
Wisconsin Dells is one of the ultimate summer destinations – not just in Wisconsin, but nationwide! Come and celebrate the start of summer with Taste of the Dells, where you can enjoy tasty samples from many Dells area restaurants.
There is also live entertainment, a fish boil, family entertainment, arts and crafts show, antique tractor show and a library book sale. Taste of the Dells and all the activities happen throughout the downtown area (right along Highways 13, 16, and 23) pretty much all day on Friday, June 9th and Saturday, June 10th. Admission is free!
Participating restaurants include:
Schedule of Events:
Friday, June 9th
Fish Boil, 4:30 pm – 7:30 pm (requires tickets)
Beer Tent Open, 4:30 pm – 10:30 pm
Live Entertainment, 7:30 pm – 10:30 pm
Saturday, June 10th
Arts and Crafts Show, 9 am – 4 pm
Antique Tractor Show, 9 am – 4 pm
Library Book Sale, 9 am – 4 pm
Bowman House Open, 10 am – 2 pm
Corvettes Parade, 11 am – 1:30 pm
Restaurant Tent Open, 11 am – 10 pm
Beer Tent Open, 11 am – 10 pm
Family Entertainment, 11 am – 7 pm
Live Entertainment, 7:30 pm – 10:30 pm
I-90/94, U.S. 12, and Highways 13, 16, and 23 all bring you to the Dells!
October 15, 2016
Racine Fall Festival of Flavors
Head to Racine, the “Kringle Capital of the World,” and join the famous O&H Bakery for their first ever Racine Fall Festival of Flavors! Located outside their 5910 Washington Avenue store location – right along Highway 20 – they are celebrating the bounty that fall brings to our state. This event – a sweet one for sure – will take place Saturday, October 15, 2016 from 10am-2pm.
* Giveaways and treats from the Wisconsin Cranberry Growers Association
* Great food like caramel apples, seasonal sandwiches, cupcakes, hand-pies, hot drinks and more. Kringles, too.
* Cookie decorating for a $1 – each child will get 1 cookie and their own little container of icing (two colors) and sprinkles!
* Every child will get one free pumpkin cookie & a fun activity sheet to color with crayons
* A Guess Game Contest with a chance to win. Guess the right number of an item and the winner receives a bakery gift basket and the chance to win Kringle of the Month for 6 months!
* Ohlaf (their mascot) will be available for pictures and interaction with the kids
O&H has six locations total, including one inside the Highway 20 Petro Travel Plaza along I-41/94. The Racine Fall Festival of Flavors takes place at the Racine-West location, about five miles further east along Highway 20, near the junction with Highway 31.
Normal store hours are 5:30am-6:00pm Monday through Friday, 5:30am-5:00pm on Saturday, and 7:00am-2:00pm on Sunday. Along with kringle, this Viking heritage-inspired store also features fair trade coffee, other fresh bakery items, and made-to-order sandwiches. But you’ll definitely want to celebrate Racine’s Danish heritage with kringle at Racine Fall Festival of Flavors – it’s one of the best!
Address:
O&H Bakery
5910 Washington Avenue (Highway 20)
Racine, WI 53406
(262) 504-7000
Website
February 20, 2016
Food & Froth at the Milwaukee Public Museum
Beer has a long, illustrious history as the centerpiece of many parties and events, especially here in Milwaukee. With this in mind, the Milwaukee Public Museum on Wells Street in downtown Milwaukee will open its doors after hours and add another chapter to that story. The Milwaukee Public Museum’s 18th Annual Food & Froth Fest will be held on Saturday, Feb. 20, 2016 from 7 – 10 p.m.
Food & Froth will feature over 200 different beers from more than 70 breweries, including Midwest treasures such as Summit Brewing Co., which is making its Food & Froth debut, and international favorites like Germany’s Krombacher Brauerei. Nibble on tasty bites from Screamin’ Sicilian frozen pizza, sampling a fully loaded pizza perfect for pairing with beer, as well as many other treats from local restaurants and caterers. Additionally there will be live music on all three exhibit floors, including a performance by The Whiskey Belles.
Food & Froth tickets are $75 for members and $125 for VIP tickets. VIP tickets include 5:30 p.m. entrance into the special VIP room filled with exclusive craft beers, a smorgasbord of unlimited savories and sweets, and 6:00 p.m. early entry into the event.
Tickets are available by calling (414) 278-2728 or (888) 700-9069 during museum hours. Admission fee covers all food, beer and live entertainment. You must be at least 21 years of age to attend, and a valid identification and ticket are required for entrance into the event.
Proceeds benefit the Museum’s exhibits and educational programs. Get all the details here!
The Milwaukee Public Museum is right along U.S. 18 (Wells Street) in downtown Milwaukee, within blocks of I-43, I-94, the south end of Highway 145, and also close to Highway 32 (Broadway/Milwaukee Street), Highway 38 (5th/6th Street south of downtown), Highway 59 (National Avenue), and I-794.
October 3, 2015
Apple Affair
No, not the Apple computers. We’re talking one of our favorite foods and fruits! Galesville’s Apple Affair is a major event in Trempealeau County. It all started in 1983 as part of Wisconsin’s effort to promote the state’s apple orchards; today, Apple Affair draws people from throughout the state and nearby Minnesota.
This family event is held on the Square in downtown Galesville Saturday, October 3rd. Kicking off the annual event is breakfast which is served in the Big Tent on the Square. The scrambled egg omelet is cooked in one of the biggest skillets you will ever see! It took 1,250 eggs, 30 pounds of ham, 10 cups of onions, 9 pounds of butter, 630 squares of coffee cake, 22 gallons of apple juice, 21 loaves of bread and 1,200 cups of coffee to feed the 630 people who attended the first event. Since then, attendance numbers in the thousands.
As the day continues, the aroma wafting through the Square changes to the smell of bratwurst and hot dogs cooking on the outdoor grills.
In another tent, Galesville’s famous 10-foot apple pie tempts the taste buds as it bakes.
Orchards from the area set up stands where visitors can purchase apples and apple treats served by local growers. Apple pie, apple slices, caramel apples, Queen’s Apple, apple cider, apple juice — if it’s apple, you will find it here.
In the parking lot across from the Square, artisans and crafters attract shoppers with everything from dollhouse miniatures to crocheted doilies to braided rugs to woodworking crafts and so much more.
Throughout the day, music from the big tent permeates the air. Provided by area performers, the music is enjoyed by young and old alike.
The Apple Affair Bike Tour is a popular activity for the day. Hundreds of bicyclists spend most of the day touring the Galesville apple orchards and surrounding area. The scenery of this “Garden of Eden” is spectacular and the event is a perfect family affair. The first Apple Affair attracted 42 bicyclists who rode the 28.7 mile loop from downtown Galesville through the orchards. The bike tour has grown in popularity and some years, depending on the weather, more than 200 bicyclists have participated. To find out more about this year’s ride go to www.appleaffairbiketour.com.
Other activities that day include the Trempealeau County Color Cruise and Open Houses at A.A.Arnold House (aka Eastside Farmstead) and at Old Main.
Free shuttle buses leave the downtown area regularly to take tour groups to the A.A.Arnold House and Old Main.
Galesville is just north of La Crosse in Trempealeau County, at the junction of Highways 35, 54, and 93.
September 12, 2015
Beaver Dam Pepper Festival
Beaver Dam has a lot of events tailored to specific foods. They have a cream cheese festival in March; in September, things get spicier!
The Beaver Dam Pepper Festival celebrates the Hungarian immigrants who brought peppers to the area in 1912 – we’re guessing foods were a little blander prior to that – and offers music, fun, and spicy dishes. Get all the details on their website!
Beaver Dam is in the heart of Dodge County along U.S. 151 and Highway 33.
Fondue Fest
How fitting is it that Fond du Lac has Fondue Fest?? With an annual attendance of more than 20,000 people, Fondue Fest comes in as the largest event in downtown FDL. Three stages feature a variety of music genres, there’s a huge Kids Zone, art and craft vendors, farmer’s market vendors, and of course, plenty of cheese and chocolate fondue. Dip, twirl, and eat!
Fondue Fest takes place Saturday September 12th along Main Street in Fond du Lac. It’s just off I-41 & U.S. 151 (which bypass the city), with Highway 23 and U.S. 45 providing direct access. Highway 175 comes in from the south as Main Street, although it technically ends before you reach downtown. Keep going north and you’ll reach it!
Check their website for full schedules and details.